Audi Q3 Facelift Review & Test Drive

The Audi Q3 is an SUV offered by the German carmaker in a 2.0 litre diesel engine which is offered with a choice of a manual and an automatic transmission. The automatic is a 7 speed S tronic unit while the manual is a 6 speed gearbox. The 35 TDI is also offered with Audi’s exclusive Quattro all wheel drive system while the 30 TDI S Edition has a front wheel drive. This SUV is available in one variant for each engine option and has a number of exterior, interior and upholstery colour options. The Audi Q3 measures 4,388 mm in length, 1,831 mm in width, 1,608 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,603 mm. Other features on the Audi Q3 include cruise control, hill hold assist, reversing camera, audi sound system and electrically adjustable seats. Check for Audi cars Price & Specifications at CarzPrice

Audi Q3 Exteriors

There are minimal changes to the exterior of the car. At the front, the car dons a new face with the bold singular frame grille that gets matte chrome finish. It extends all the way to the headlamp and forms a contrast with the body colour, making the front appear sportier than before.The redesigned front bumper gets black inserts for the fog-lamp housing, interestingly there are no fog lamps here. That is because, the car gets new all-LED headlamps (first in segment) with DRLs, which Audi claims, offers the enough illumination even in the foggy conditions. The other change is to the internals of the headlamp, the shape of the day time running lamps is different and they are visibly larger than before.

The only change to the side profile is the addition of the new ten-spoke alloy-wheels that look elegant. The changes to the rear are even lesser; the internals of the tail lamp have been altered, but unless one has spent a lot of time with its predecessor, the changes will be hard to notice. The new turn indicators though are instantly noticeable, the dynamic indicators illuminate from inside out in the direction of the turn.Although the changes are limited, I still like the way the new Q3 looks. It is more aggressive than before, but importantly Audi has managed to do it in a subtle manner. There are no additional cuts and creases on the body like on the new Mercedes cars, the aggression comes just from the face and stance. If I were to draw an analogy, while the entry-level Mercs look like hardcore action heroes like Sylvester Stallone, the new Q3 has the demeanor of Jason Statham.

Audi Q3 Interiors

There are no major changes to report in the cabin. The Audi Q3 carries forward with the same neat dashboard and generally user-friendly interior. Quality is up there with more expensive Audis and though the seats are not real leather but leatherette, the ambience inside is what you’d expect in a premium SUV. You sit reasonably high up in a Q3, the front seats are generous in size and support and even the rear seat is spacious enough for two adults to sit in comfort.

With the update, Audi has streamlined the variants on offer. The 30TFSI and 30TDI can only be had in Premium trim while the 35TDI is available in Premium Plus and Technology trim too. What is nice is that even the Premium variants get much wanted goodies like a panoramic sunroof and electrically adjustable front seats. The Premium Plus trim doesn’t get more features but adds in richer aluminium-look inlays. The top-spec Technology variant is pricey but your money does get you paddle shifters, SD card-based navigation, a reverse camera and a colour multi-info display in the instruments binnacle among other features.

The Q3 runs Audi’s MMI infotainment system. It is easy enough to use but the interface doesn’t look as slick as that in the newer Audis and there’s no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay support either.

Audi Q3 Performance

Petrol Q3s start with a turbocharged 1.4-litre unit driving the front wheels. It’s powerful and rarely forces you to change down on steep hills. In fact, we’d choose it over the more powerful 2.0-litre engine since that one is available only with quattro four-wheel drive, and is less efficient as a result.

At the top of the range sits the RS Q3. It’s all-wheel drive and automatic only, and gets a 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder petrol engine. It’s extremely quick in a straight line; there’s even a Performance version that’s quicker still, thanks to a power boost.

Of the two diesels, the lower-powered unit is the best. It’s easily strong enough to cope with a full load, pulling from low down over a wide band. The higher-powered diesel feels more strained under load and is hard to justify.

Audi Q3 Driving Dynamics

Audi hasn’t altered the suspension of the Q3 and it rides and handles the same as before, there is nothing to complain about though. That’s because the baby Q has always carried a good balance of ride and handling, taking bad roads in its stride with confidence while also being sharp through corners. The Q3 is the only car which can carry the SUV tag with pride in its segment as it comes with the quattro all-wheel drive system, making it quite capable off-road. We took our test model through some off-road sections and it didn’t bat an eyelid. The steering is light at low speeds which is a boon in the city while at high speeds, the feedback could have been better. Braking performance is excellent and the Pirelli tyres offer very good grip. For information on contact details of Audi car dealers in Mumbai

Audi Q3 Safety Features

When compared with its small SUV rivals, the Q3 falls short of the class best but still performs well with regards to safety. In fact, examining its five-star Euro NCAP rating more closely, it’s evident that the model’s child protection rating is near the top, although its pedestrian rating is only average.The Q3 provides most of the safety kit you’d expect: six airbags, including curtain bags that extend into the rear of the cabin, electronic stability control and ISOFIX fittings for the front passenger and two outer rear seats. However, automatic emergency braking isn’t available.

There’s a long, and largely reasonably priced, selection of optional safety and security kit including visual and acoustic front and rear parking aids, rear side airbags, and active lane assist and blind spot assist.To ward off thieves, deadlocks, locking wheelnuts and an alarm are also included. It’s enough for the Q3 to have earned five-star ‘theft-of’, and four-star ‘theft-from’ ratings from to security experts Thatcham.

The new Audi Q3 is now a lot fresher, offers extra features and at the same time, retains the good qualities of the previous version. It would have been nice to see the updated engine with betterpower and efficiency make it to India as well. There are more colour options too, like the shade you see here. Model trims will mostly be similar to the outgoing model. We drove the Technology variant that features standard navigation and 20GB jukebox storage in addition to the other features like the panoramic sunroof and LED lighting. The entry level model wasn’t here at the drive but expect this version to get added features too. The Q3 rolls out in India on June 18 and we expect prices to go up only marginally